Financial aid pours in for rape victim’s family but they have no bank account

As the condition of the five-year-old rape victim is improving at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), offers to extend financial aid for her treatment is pouring from all quarters.

Several NGOs have shown interest in helping the family financially, and want to transfer money but the family does not have a bank account. They have been visiting banks close to the hospital to open an account. But since nobody in the family has a valid ID proof, no bank is ready to open an account. "We are trying to check if there is a way to open an account without submitting an identity proof," the girl's father told HT.

He said some bank officials have asked for a written undertaking from the hospital staff also.

Government hospitals have a provision to waive off the treatment cost if the family is too poor to bear the cost. "We have separate funds for below poverty line patients," said a senior doctor at AIIMS.

The girl is currently having semi-solid food and has no fever. "Her colostomy is also functioning normally," said Dr DK Sharma, AIIMS Medical Superintendent.According to one of the family members, they have been told that girl was likely to be discharged after 10-15 days.

"She is fine now and playing with the dolls that people have sent her," said a source close to the family.